First-degree murder trial to be conducted in Marion County

Christina Scroggin, arrested for the April 23, 2013, murder of Raul Segura Turrieta, 24, of Mountain Home, was in Baxter County Circuit Court on Thursday, accompanied by her parents and attorney.

Scroggin appeared calm, with an occasional smile as she talked to her parents and Fayetteville-based attorney Drew Ledbetter. She was well-groomed, wearing her long, dark hair straight, dressed in a long-sleeved green blouse and a black knee-length skirt.

Scroggin is charged with first-degree murder in connection with Turrieta's death. Should she be convicted, the 26-year-old Mountain Home woman faces a 10-40 year sentence, or life in prison.

When her case was called, Ledbetter told Circuit Court Judge John Putman that the defense's mental evaluation of Scroggin showed she is fit to proceed with her trial.

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Raul Segura Turrieta, who was murdered April 23, 2013. Christina Scroggin was arrested and charged with the murder.(Photo: Kevin Pieper/The Baxter Bulletin)

Prosecutor Ron Kincade said he will file a motion to have the trial moved to Marion County, as that is where authorities believe Scroggin killed Turrieta, her boyfriend. Kincade noted moving the trial would preclude a defense appeal based on the case not being tried in the jurisdiction where the crime was alleged to have occurred.

Ledbetter told the judge he had no objection to the case being transferred to Marion County.

Kincade also noted the defense will need time to locate and engage at least one expert witness. With a mental defect defense looking less likely, Ledbetter now will likely seek an alternative theory for the justification of Turrieta's death.

One common defense used in female-on-male killings is battered woman syndrome. This theory of defense asserts a victim of domestic violence can sometimes reach what is essentially a snapping point, and, with diminished capacity for reason, lash out violently at the abuser without full knowledge of the consequences of their actions

Putman said he would grant Kincade's motion to transfer the case to Marion County.

While Kincade told the judge he was amenable to delaying the case so the defense could find necessary experts, Kincade did inform the judge he felt there was some urgency in resolving the case.

"Judge, I would like to try this before I leave office. The court knows I'm leaving this position at the end of the year," Kincade said. "It would probably be the professional thing to do to try to get this tried before my successor takes office, if it's possible."

Putman said the court would do all it could to see the case tried prior to Kincade's retirement.